Description
This 4-Ingredient Chicken Quesadilla Casserole is a simple, flavorful, and family-friendly dish that layers tender chicken, salsa, cheese, and tortillas baked to melty perfection. Ready in just 40 minutes, it’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner that brings all the deliciousness of quesadillas in a comforting casserole form.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken (such as rotisserie chicken or leftovers)
- 1 cup salsa, divided (or substitute taco sauce or enchilada sauce)
- 1 cup (4 ounces) grated sharp cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend, divided
- 6 flour tortillas
Optional Garnish
- Fresh cilantro
- Sliced green onions
- Sliced olives
- Sliced tomatoes
- Diced avocado
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Extra salsa
- Fresh lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking dish. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly spray a 2-quart baking dish, approximately an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan, with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix chicken with salsa and cheese. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked diced or shredded chicken with half of the salsa (½ cup) and half of the grated cheese (½ cup). Toss together until well incorporated.
- Assemble the casserole layers. Place 2 of the tortillas in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, tearing them if necessary to cover the surface completely with overlapping as needed. Spread half of the chicken mixture evenly over the tortillas. Drizzle ¼ cup of the remaining salsa over this layer. Repeat the layering process with another 2 tortillas and the remaining chicken mixture, then drizzle with the remaining ¼ cup salsa. Finish by topping with the last 2 tortillas.
- Bake covered. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to heat through and allow flavors to meld.
- Add cheese and finish baking. Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of grated cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Serve with garnishes. Cut the casserole into squares and garnish with your choice of optional toppings such as fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, olives, tomatoes, diced avocado, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, or a squeeze of fresh lime juice for added brightness and flavor.
Notes
- This casserole is a deliciously easy way to enjoy quesadilla flavors with minimal ingredients and effort.
- Using pre-cooked chicken like rotisserie makes this recipe quick and convenient.
- Feel free to swap salsa for taco sauce or enchilada sauce to vary the flavor profile.
- The optional garnishes add freshness and texture, so don’t hesitate to experiment with what you have on hand.
- Can be doubled for larger gatherings by using a larger baking dish.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for 2 to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the casserole
- Calories: 387 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 994 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 88 mg
